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Film: Dolemite Is My Name

One of the better movies about both the creative process and the business of being an artist. I prefer this to The Disaster Artist, I think. And that's high praise.

This Strikes Me As An Interesting Development

The Daytime Emmy's eliminate gender distinction in giving out Young Actor and Young Actress awards, and instead replace it with Outstanding Young Performer.

If I'm reading this correctly, it means there will be one award given per year instead of two.

Might be worth seeing where this goes, because because if there's one thing Hollywood folks enjoy more than being on the cutting edge of wokeness, it would be giving themselves awards.

When they figure out one is less than two, I imagine some people will be miffed.

Stay tuned.

Where Can I Buy This?

An American cheese named best in the world 2019.

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Film: Parasite

Terrific. Pair with Shoplifters.

Huh

Study shows the wealthy and celebrities have not changed their flying habits to reduce CO2.

I'll change my habits when the "leaders" change theirs.

I Wish I Could Draw A Cartoon With the Caption --

NBA players "Can we just shut up and dribble?"

Yikes

Steve Kerr's response to being called out by Trump.

"The same people who are asking me to stick to sports are also asking me to expand my horizons," Kerr said. "I guess that's what I'm hearing. Again, I will speak on the things I'm comfortable with.

Ummm...I take this as a mischaracterization of even Trump's position. Trump is pointing out how willing Kerr is to disparage his fellow countrymen for not agreeing politically but then silent on a NBA BASKETBALL story involving geopolitical foe of the United States. Trump is calling out Kerr's hypocrisy, not suggesting he should become a China expert. And then this:

"As far as North Korea, I don't know much about North Korea. As far as the Ukraine situation, I don't know much about the Ukraine situation. We could just go around the world and maybe I can pinpoint a couple others I'm comfortable about, but this whole thing is so ridiculous. Again, we're fortunate in this country to have free speech. I exercise that. But part of having free speech is also electing not to speak if you don't feel comfortable about something."  

Kerr declined comment when asked if he felt Morey should be fired for sending out the initial tweet. 

"I choose not to be a soundbite tonight," Kerr said. "Probably too late for that tonight. I choose not to be that soundbite."

It sure comes across as craven and a weasel out. Ukraine, North Korea, etc, none of those issues are related to the NBA. This one is. This directly impacts the league Kerr and all the players are a part of. This is what makes the sudden silence so telling and odd. No one expects them to be Chinese history experts, but it is completely wild that NO ONE wants to comment on an NBA GM almost getting fired over harmless tweet that hurts the feelings of an authoritarian power.

The reality is China WAY overreacted to the Morey tweet. They are bullying the NBA in a foolish way. And it's a strange world where these NBA guys are willing to pounce and criticize their own countrymen, President, and fans on issues and then fall silent when a geopolitical authoritarian foe might get their feelings hurt. A lot of folks think this is about the money. I actually don't. I think the NBA guys got flat footed on an issue they don't care about at all. Fair enough. But should've thought about this possibility when they started using the NBA platform to get fans to care about issues they don't care about. It goes the other way too, it appears.

The hypocrisy is what annoys people.

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Film: Joker

A dark, grumpy movie and it seems like Todd Phillips is in a bad mood. It's a bit derivative in that, it just takes the same idea as Nolan's/Ledger's Joker and digs deeper. It pays homage to King of Comedy and Taxi Driver, but this only adds to the derivative nature, methinks. All that said, on a technical level - on cinematic/artistic grounds - come on folks - it was impressive. The story conceit, a small character study of the Joker with about 8 total characters in the film. The acting, the cinematography, the use of dance. It was good. I'm impressed on cinematic level. The cultural level...I don't really know what to say other than I was sitting next to a group of what seemed to me impressionable young men who were cheering when the Joker rose from near death and that struck me as maybe a misreading of the film.

My Suggestion

NBA players wear sneakers with Taiwan flags on them. Double down.

Good Point

Do we ever see the story where the media wonders whether a member of the "liberal block" will "set his (or her) politics aside" to reach a result he or she might regret because neutral application of interpretive principles so commands?

So I Get This Right

Many often vocal NBA folks are keeping silent on the Morey tweet, Hong Kong, etc. Fair enough. They say they are being sensitive to Chinese fans, but of course what they mean are powerful Chinese business interests because even rudimentary "research" into the issue would reveal what is going on - the Chinese communists are circling the wagons.

But as long as the NBA folks are being so "sensitive," let's make clear who is safe to offend and who is unsafe to offend.

Safe to Offend/Hurt Feelings/Disrespect:
Democratically elected President of United States
Police Officers
Veterans of foreign wars and pretty much anyone who thinks the US flag ought to be paid respect.
All Trump supporters
All Republicans
All social conservatives
Hong Kong Protestors risking lives for freedom

Unsafe to Offend/Hurt Feelings/Disrespect/Speak Out of Turn:
Totalitarian Chinese Government and their paid underlings

Am I getting on my high horse? Yes. Is it easy for me to get on my high horse? Yes. But my point has long been: it's also cheap and easy to be "woke." The question: does "wokeness" comes from truly felt values, or is it simply a pose / fad. Unfortunately, I'm cynical on these matters (based on experience) and view the majority of wokeness as a fad and not an expression of deep moral principles.

The Morey tweet brings it into focus.

Jemele Hill

And I've finally found an issue I agree Jemele Hill on. She nails it.

UPDATE: How do I square this with Kap? Easy. There are such things as a positive and a negative right. Neither of these issues are exactly "rights" issues, but the model for thinking works. Kap does not have a "right" to play on an NFL team. But Morey does have a "right" to not be fired for speaking freely. In fact, Kap was never fired at all. He knelt at NFL games and wasn't fired as a result. His situation was quite a bit more nuanced and complicated. This Morey tweet situation isn't nuanced or complicated AT ALL. Morey said what he said on twitter. It alienated a foreign government interested in holding onto power who now insist he be removed. The entire situation is pure capitulation to an authoritarian regime for money.

That Said...

...Think about the fact that the GSW refused to visit the white house, but not a single person associated with the NBA (or sports world) has come out in support of Daryl Morey's position on Hong Kong protestors who are risking their lives to hold onto values we proclaim to care about.

Adam Silver

Has adopted, I think, the exact right tone and approach to dealing with China's anger over the Daryl Morey tweet. Ball's in Chinese government's court on how to proceed and it wouldn't surprise me to see them fumble.

Ouch

Rolling Stone and Matt Taibbi are calling bullshit on the "whistleblower" and Ukraine-gate.

BAER: You know, my guess, it’s a palace coup against Trump. And who knows what else they know at this point.

Trump keeps looking better in comparison to his opponents. If you just read the Ukraine story, the Biden situation seems the most fishy.

He's Not Wrong

The treatment of the tea partiers by David Brooks and the establishment media and politicians gave way to Trump.

Tea Party was polite, inoffensive, and worried about the size of government. Their policy goals were ignored by Washington, they were called tea baggers and racist by the media. And we're surprised they gravitate to Trump?

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TV: Succession S2

Addictive.

TV: The Righteous Gemstones S1

Highly enjoyable. Some great actress discoveries...

Film: The Princess Bride

Noticed this time around Humperdinck and Count Rugen were obviously meant as gay S&M lovers. Clues:

1) Chris Saradon's performance.
2) Chris Saradon isn't the least bit interested in Buttercup, the most beautiful woman in the world.
3) Their couple-esque tiff over Humperdinck being too busy to watch Christopher Guest put to work his torture device.
4) The torture device "sucks" the life out of you.
5) Christ Saradon's performance.

Wonder when the cancel culture comes for Princess Bride...